Missing diver found, saved off Lake Worth Inlet

Good Samaritan with keen eye spots him

July 1, 2013|By Wayne K. Roustan, Sun Sentinel

A Good Samaritan with a keen eye is being credited with helping to save a missing diver on Monday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

He was in a condominium overlooking the ocean when he spotted a diver thrashing around in the water near the Lake Worth Inlet. The witness called authorities after noticing the diver was waving his hands for help, officials said.

The Coast Guard had received an earlier report that the diver was missing from the Deep Obsession dive boat and launched a rescue crew from Station Lake Worth Inlet. A Dolphin helicopter crew was diverted to help the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office marine patrol with the search.

The diver was last seen one nautical mile southeast of the Inlet. The Coast Guard had issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast after he failed to surface at his scheduled time, according to the rescue report.

The Sherrif's marine deputies found the diver and pulled him from the water with no reported injuries. He was returned to the Deep Obsession, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard is reminding divers to follow safety procedures and planned dive schedules to help prevent search and rescue emergencies, especially during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.